Two for One: Zendala Dare #43 - Feeling like an Artist & Diva Challenge #105 - "UMT v.XIII : Dansk"- and Give away

Was not sure how much I would be able to participate in current Dares/Challenges. One thing that helped was that I have been home for the second day with what I think is the GI virus going around. Yesterday did not feel like doing anything. Today is a little better and need to get back to work tomorrow so wanted to motivate myself even though I am not 100 %. What better way to do it than tangling.

The other is that after seeing Erin's template and the tangle in Laura's UMT, felt like I could combine both challenges with only one tile. Have not done this before. The Bright Owl's dare had to do with when, and if, you felt like an artist. Anyone who has read "the about me" section of my blog knows that I did not see myself as an artist, or doing art because I could not draw "things". Most of what I saw was people that could sit down and draw people, cars, etc. Once I started doing Zentangle, I think my perspective changed. It wasn't that everything I first did I considered to be art. The earlier things I think would best be described as experimentation. I was drawing patterns. As I progressed, I began to look at actions being purposeful. This did not mean that I planned out every tangle I was going to use, but once I started doing something, I focused on what I wanted to do and not just duplicating a pattern. I think the other thing that changed was when I started to tackle the area of shading. I am still on this journey but feel that shading makes such a difference in how a Zentangle ® tile looks. I guess the easiest way to describe it is similar to what Erin said in her post. I began seeing what I was doing as creating something and just not doing something. I guess I would say that is what makes me feel like an artist. To me, that is one of the great parts of the Zentangle® art form. It allows every one to tap into that inner artist and create. Being human, it also helps when other people make encouraging and positive comments about the tiles or other items I have created. It is an additional affirmation.

Laura's Challenge was to use the Margaret Bremner's tangle Dansk(can click on her name to see this tangle). This is where I digressed a little from Erin's Dare, in that she said to use tangles that we liked and helped us with making us feel like an artist. Dansk is a tangle that I have never used before. I had seen it and thought it interesting but had not used in anything. The other tangles that I used are ones that I have used and some of them are my favorites. 'Nzeppel is one of my favorites. I just like the way that it develops and what it becomes. The beads are ones that I think can highlight and also help separate parts of the tile. I have really grown to like the organic tangles, no pun intended. Flux and Zinger are fun to do and I think also help create an effect. Sometimes it softens a tile. Other times I will use almost all organic tiles just to create a scene/effect.

Hopefully, I was able to successfully address both the Dare and the Challenge with this endeavor. Here it is. I hope you enjoy it.

Tangles used: Dansk, Pearls, 'Nzeppel, Flux, Fescu, & Zinger

If you have not all ready done so, would strongly encourage you to visit both The Bright Owl and I Am the Diva to look at all the other great pieces submitted by some very talented artists. Almost forgot to mention that Laura at I am the Diva is also conducting a give away of a Carol Ohl's Tangle-a-Day Calendar. You can find how to participate on Laura's blog.

As always comments are welcomed, encouraged, and appreciated. Hope you are enjoying your journey with tangling and developing the artist within you.